Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service has taken significant steps to turn a deeper shade of green? Recently, the agency voluntarily conducted an inventory of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and included emissions from all of its air, highway, rail, and ship transportation sources. The study establishes a baseline for future, annual evaluations to help the agency meet its GHG reduction goals. The Postal Service’s direct GHG emissions total 5.3 million tons. That’s one twentieth of one percent of the total GHG emissions in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is about equal to one million gasoline powered cars driving an average of 12,000 miles each year. Contracted transportation represents 52% of these carbon emissions. Emissions from facilities represent 36%. Given that the Postal Service has 43,000 alternative fuel vehicles delivering mail across the country, only 12% of the carbon footprint is attributed to vehicles. Read more about the GHG emissions study announcement in this press release. Here are some interesting facts about the Postal Service’s environmental goals and commitments, which have earned the agency numerous awards and accolades. The United States Postal Service…
- Aims to reduce energy use 30% by 2015, reduce petroleum fuel use 20% by 2015, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% percent by 2020
- Increased alternative fuel use 61% since 2005 and retired 10,000 inefficient vehicles from its fleet
- Recycles more than a quarter of a million tons of paper and plastic annually through its recycling initiative in 6,000 Post Office Box lobbies
- Operates the world’s largest civilian fleet of alternative fuel-capable vehicles
- Saved $3 million and nearly 100 million kilowatts in an agency-wide energy challenge
- Avoided $1.05 million in costs through green information technology initiatives
And remember, the Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. To read more about the USPS environmental initiatives, click here.
